352 Journal and Correspondence

rity omitted or refused to execute the Trust committed to them

it ought to be made known to their constituents that the power
might be placed in more safe Hands. That the exertions of
the Letter Writer had already produced in part of the Council
of Virginia distrust and suspicion of you: That we had the
most convincing proofs upon all occasions of your integrity,
Vigilance and Activity in the common cause: And therefore
esteemed it our duty to insist that justice might be done, to
your injured characters. It was argued against the motion
that the letter was confidential, that it had raised no suspicions
in the congress of your zeal or integrity, because they had
reposed the highest confidence in you, immediately afterwards
by the recommendation sent by the return of the express.
And that the mischief which would be produced by communi-
cating the letters would be greater than any benefit which
could be expected from it And that the President was not
obliged to produce the letter for the Congress to take order
thereon, Altho it had been read in the House Upon the
question whether the President should be requested to lay the
letter before congress five colonies voted in the neg^e three in
the affirm^d and one divided. We conceived this treatment to
you & our province to be cruel and ungerous to the last
degree, the obligation to secrecy expired yesterday and we
immediately determined to give you such a state of this Trans-
action as our memories supply us with; and M^r Johnson com-
mitted to writing what passed on the first day. We this
morning waited on M^r Hancock to demand the letter, but he
refused to see us, Thus the affair rests at present, & as we
cannot delay communicating it to you longer, We have ordered
an express immediately to set out for Annapolis and have not
the least doubt but you will take the proper steps to vindicate
your Honour against the foul Calumny of M^r Purviance who
has dared to detract from your Patriotism & spirit. We are
determined at all hazards to support you, and tho very sorry
for the occasion hope you have complied with the recom-
mendation of Congress, by securing M^r Eden and his papers.
If he has conducted himself fairly an Examination will do him
credit if otherwise we ought to know it and guard against his
unfriendly endeavours. We shall write you by the Post and
are Gen^l Y^r most ob^t Ser^ts Th. Johnson Jun^r

Phil^a T. Stone. R. Alexander.

Thursday 18 April 1776.

	Original.	[Smallwood to Council.] April 18th 1776. Gentlemen. Captain Adams, yesterday Morning took